26 June 2008Since our last visit the spray-foam insulation has been carried out, the wiring loom installed and the fitting of the bulkheads and lining out has commenced. This picture was taken by Maria just before the spray-foaming was done....

....and this just after!

With the spray-foaming complete and the wiring loom installed the lining out can start.

The bedroom/galley bulkheads are positioned.

Our bathroom takes shape!

The first of the ash side panels go in.

Ian is cutting out the ash panel for the galley houdini. Meanwhile, Chris is checking on the dog!

Washing machine, PRV & Bilge outlets/skin fittings.

Our water tank - we have calculated to hold 136 gallons. Paul is scratching his head as to how to connect the supply pipe to the filler (top left), as Reeves have for some reason had this welded in a very awkward postion/angle.

Work in progress on changes to the the fuel filler & cap - we mentioned in an earlier posting that we might have something done to the one fitted by Reeves!

The Saturday was a lovely day. First stop was to see our boatbuilders, Paul & Maria & the gang, on their show boat for this year, Alma Jean (the first boat from the left in the far row). Then it was off to visit as many of the competition’s boats as possible, with a view to nicking good ideas wherever we saw them!

Saturday night was spent in the beer tent, meeting the owners of Mehalahland, Plan B & The Maisibert, along with the new owners of Alma Jean. These guys are the Heartwood Boat Supporters Club - an esteemed organisation to whose ranks they’ve now promoted the Slow Pace crew – and what a lovely bunch they all were!

Sunday was a miserable, wet & windy day – but that didn’t stop us. Our priority was to buy an oven & water filter & to have a good look around the stalls. We also managed to fit in a couple more of the show boats. By mid afternoon we were all sodden & soaked through & more than happy to take up an invite to visit Mehalahland, Plan B & The Maisibert at their moorings on the cut. Once again their owners all made us very welcome & it was great to see previous example of our boatbuilder’s workmanship & to get first hand comments & recommendations for our own build.

Even with the bad weather on Sunday it was a great Crick Boat Show for us (we could only make the Saturday & Sunday, so missed the disappointment of the premature closure on the Monday). We managed to pick up some bargains, picked lots of the expert’s brains & got to meet some really lovely people. So roll on next year’s Crick. You never know – Slow Pace might even be moored up out on the cut!

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We are two couples, who have been friends for many years and enjoyed numerous holidays and days out together. One of us said 'Fancy to try something different, how about a day out on a narrowboat?'

It sounded a good idea, so in June 2007 we booked a day boat (Hobbit), on the River Chelmer: http://www.papermilllock.co.uk/gallery.htmAlong with our two dogs, we had a very enjoyable day - even coping with our first lock in the pouring rain seemed fun!